Receptacle supporting stand



Sept. 8, 1959 H. E. LANDIS ETAL 2,903,221

RECEPTACLE SUPPORTING STAND Filed Oct. 28, 1954 FIG-2 2a INVENTOR. 4 HAROLD E LANDIS r g 24 JOHN D. LANDIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent RECEI'IACLE SUPPORTING STAND Harold E. Landis and John D. Landis, Dayton, Ohio Application October 28, 1954, Serial No. 465,326

2 Claims. (Cl. 248-154) This invention relates to a device particularly useful in connection with painting and cleaning operations and the like. In particular the present invention relates to a device adapted for supporting a paint can or the like and is also adapted for being clamped releasably to a supporting surface such as a step ladder, step or table top.

In doing painting, particularly around the home, it is always more or less of a problem to keep the can of paint in a handy location and to prevent paint drippings from running down the side of the can, getting onto the floor or other surfaces, particularly where it is necessary to work on a step ladder. In connection with cleaning operations, such as washing wood-work and walls, a similar problem exists in keeping a container of whatever cleaning fluid being used in a convenient location and protected against being tipped over or dropped.

With the foregoing in mind, it is the preliminary object of the present invention to provide a device particularly adaptable for supporting a paint can, or the like, so that it can be conveniently and safely located in a position where it will be convenient to use.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device for supporting a paint can and the like which includes releasable clamping arrangements so that the device can be clamped to a table top, to a mantle, to a step or step ladder or a like horizontal stationary surface.

A still further object is the provision of a device of the nature referred to, in which a holder is adapted for supporting the paint can and is in the form of a pan or container so that it cm receive and retain a cleaning fluid. Another object is the provision of a device of the nature referred to which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which is convenient to use for all its intended purposes.

The foregoing objects and still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device constructed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the clamp device at the lower end of the supporting post of the device; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view looking up toward the bottom of the pan-like member at the upper end of the support.

The device, according to the present invention, comprises a p an-like member having, extending downwardly from the bottom thereof in about the center, a support post 12. Post 12 may be flanged as indicated at 14 and may be welded, riveted, or otherwise suitably aflixed to the bottom of the pan-like member 10.

Member 10 is adapted for supporting paint cans of various sizes, and preferably, includes centering means for holding the can in the center of member 10 directly over supporting post 12. These centering means may take the form of screws 16 which are threaded through plates 18 attached to the side of pan member 10 so that they can Patented Sept. 8, 1959 ice be adjusted readily for receiving any size paint can or the like therebetween.

At the bottom of support post 12 there is a pair of plate members forming a releasable clamp. These plate members comprise an upper plate 20 fixed to post 12 as by pin 22 in substantially horizontal relation and a lower plate 24 which is pivotally connected to post 12 as by pivot pin 26.

A compression spring 28 bears between the plates on one side of post 12 thereby urging the plates toward each other on the other side of the post so that they can serve as a clamping means. A rod 30 extends along the axis of spring 28 through both of the plates and limits the opening movements of the plates under the influence of spring 28, so that plate 24 is normally positioned at right angles to post 12 and can, therefore serve as a supporting foot for the device when it is placed in an upright position on a horizontal surface.

The plates can be moved away from each other by means of a rod 32 connected to lower plate 24 adjacent to spring 28, and passing upwardly through a notch or aperture 34 in plate 20 to a point where it is connected with a lever 36 which is pivoted at 38 to support post 12.

It will be apparent that lever 36 can readily be actuated to open the clamp device merely by pressing it against post 12 while at the same time the post is grasped for supporting the device by hand.

It will be evident that compression spring 28 is merely exemplary of several types of spring means that could be employed in connection with the clamp and the particular actuating arrangement for the clamp, consisting of lever 36 and rod 32, while it is the preferred structure, it is also merely exemplary of what could be employed for this purpose.

The entire assembly is relatively light and inexpensive and is convenient to use either for retaining a paint can in pan-like member 10 or for retaining a liquid cleaning solution, in the said pan-like members. In either case, the advantages obtained of the material retained in the device being supported thereby in a convenient and safe location so as to be readily movable to any other desired location having a flat surface on which the device can be set, or a surface such as a table top or step ladder step on which the device can be clamped.

It will be undertood that we desire to comprehend in our invention such modifications and adaptations thereof as might be desired in order to meet varying situations and it will be understood the scope of the protection is to include such modifications and adaptations as come within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a device of the nature described; a holder comprising a pan-like member, adjustable centering means carried by said holder for centering and holding a paint can or the like therein, a post extending downwardly from the center of said holder forming a hand-graspable sup porting member therefor, substantially horizontal clamp elements carried in spaced relation by the post near the bottom thereof with one being fixed to the post and the other being pivoted on the post, a spring bearing between said clamp elements urging them toward each other at one end, and a lever pivoted to the post in the region that is grasped in holding the device connected with said other clamp element to open the clamp when the post is grasped while the lever is simultaneously pressed to ward the post and to permit closing of the clamp when the post and, therefore, the lever is released, the lower of said clamp elements being at the extreme bottom end of the port and normally horizontal to provide a base on which the device can rest.

2. In combination; a vertical post, a first plate pivotal- 1y mounted on the bottom of the post adapted to support the post on a horizontal surface, a second plate fixedly mounted on the post above the first plate, a spring urging said plates toward each other at one end in clamping relation to an object therebe'tween, a lever pivoted to the post above the second plate, a link connecting said lever to said first plate to move said plates apart at said one end when the lever is pressed against the post simultaneously with the act of grasping the .post, and means mounted on the upper end of the post to support a paint can or the like, said last-mentioned means comprising a pan-like element also adapted to contain a liquid and means carried thereby to 'center and clamp a paint can or the like therein, said pan-like element being concentric with the post.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Skoog Apr. 4, 1904 Fleming May 3, 1904 Hannan May 20, 1913 Berry Apr. 3, 1917 Farber Aug. 1, 1922 Farber June 24, 1924 Wilson 'Sept. 1, 1925 Wilkie July 3, 1 9-28 Noetzel Aug. 16, 1932 Diesfeld Oct. 13, 1953 

